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rach-tem3

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SNOW TO WATER RATIO

meltingsnow.jpegexternal image images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTSIviyNlDHWevKOFhGjVMjWdMzSnVUWk1AuKVMgEGOM53GxZcR
http://blog.scoop.it/en/2011/05/31/from-melting-snow-to-snowball-effect/
http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTSIviyNlDHWevKOFhGjVMjWdMzSnVUWk1AuKVMgEGOM53GxZcR

Broad Question

How does the volume of snow effect its water vol5ume?


Specific Question

What is the ratio of snow volume to its water volume? Is it proportionate?


Variables

Independent Variable:

Amount of Snow (ml)

Dependent Variable:

Amount of Water (ml)


Variables That Need To Be Controlled

Melting Method, Closed Container, and Method of Snow Collection

Hypothesis

I hypothesize that the ratio of snow volume to its water will be about 1/4 and proportionate.


Graph of Hypothesis

rach_tem3_hypothesisgraph.JPG






Experimental Design

I will be conducting my experiment at my house in the kitchen. The experiment will be to find the ratio of snow volume to its water content. I am the only person who will be conducting the experiment. In order to have a thorough experiment, I am going to complete a total of twenty trials for my experiment. I will have four different measurements to conduct with five trials for each. All the data from this experiment will be recorded on a printed off spreadsheet or data table then brought to school to be put on the computer. I will document my whole experiment with a camera. The pictures will be uploaded and saved on a computer. Then I will email them to my science teacher for access at school. I will save them to my X-drive
so I can then upload them to my wiki and print them off.

Materials List

  1. Snow
  2. Liquid Measuring Cup
  3. Clear Plastic Wrap
  4. Triple Beam Balance
  5. Digital Camera
  6. Copy of Spreadsheet
  7. Pencil
  8. Calculator
  9. Plastic Cups

Detailed Procedure



  1. Gather all materials onto kitchen table.
  2. Weigh the liquid measuring cup on the triple beam balance.
  3. Go outside to measure fifty millimeters of snow into liquid measuring cup.
  4. Weigh the snow in the measuring cup. Subtract the weight of the cup to get the weight of the snow.
  5. Pour the snow into a plastic cup.
  6. Cover the cup with clear plastic wrap.
  7. Use the formula mass/volume to find the density of the snow.
  8. Record the data on spreadsheet.
  9. Repeat steps 3-8 four more times.
  10. Repeat steps 3-9 for the three remaining measurements of 100, 150, and 200 milileters.
  11. Once snow has melted take the cup of water and pour it into the liquid measuring cup.
  12. Weigh the water and find its volume. Calculate the density.
  13. Record the data on spreadsheet.
  14. Repeat steps 11-13 for the rest of the cups.

Background Research

The process of a solid changing into a liquid is called melting. When the solid is heated and the temperature rises it reaches a point where it turns to liquid.

The freezing points of water and more concentrated liquids. When water is more concentrated it will take a lower temperature to freeze.
Volume is how much space an object takes up. All matter has volume.
All matter has mass. Mass is the amount of matter an object contains. Matter can be classified by the shape or form it is in.
Most substances become smaller and denser when they become a solid. Water, though, expands when it freezes. It will become larger and less dense. This is why ice it floats on liquids.


References


Bodach, Vijaya K. States of Matter. Logan, IA: Perfection Learning, 2006. Print.


Karpelenia, Jenny. Mixtures and Solutions. Logan, IA: Perfection Learning, 2006. Print.

Parker, Lewis. Classifying/Grouping Materials. Logan, IA: Perfection Learning, 2006.

Wollard, Kathy. "Why Does Water Expand When It Cools?." Why Does Water Expand When It Cools?. N.p., 1999. Web. 19 Jan. 2012.



Results


Data Table


Graphs


rach_tem3_resultsgraph.JPG


Photos

DSCN0119.JPGDSCN0114.JPG
DSCN0118.JPGDSCN0109.JPG

DSCN0107.JPGDSCN0106.JPG

DSCN0105.JPGDSCN0099.JPG

DSCN0115.JPGDSCN0104.JPG


Data Analysis

Conclusion


The original purpose of this experiment was to find the ratio of snow volume to its water content volume. Once I had that information I was going to see if the ratios were proportionate. The results of the experiment were that there is no definite ratio of snow volume to its water volume. The data shows that each measurement I tested had a different ratio. The 100 ml had a ratio of 2.2:1, the 200 ml had 2.95:1, the 300 ml had 3.31:1 and the 400 ml had a ratio of 3.78:1.

Discussion

My hypothesis was that the ratio, of snow volume to water volume, would be 4:1 and proportionate. My results do not support my hypothesis. There is a relationship between the dependent and independent variables. Some patterns and trends that my data showed is that as the snow volume increases so does the ratio. I think the tests I did went smoothly. This is because I didn’t run into any problems when I was conducting the experiment. Everything went as planned and worked well. If I could improve my experiment I would involve density and water percentage to see how that also affects the data and ratio. This would also make a very interesting future study.